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It is interesting that Zegras has 2 60 point seasons and is almost 2 years younger then Tippett. Not meant a slight with Tippett, but his future is very much in doubt to be on the team long term if Zegras has a good season and the current organizational depth at wing.
From what I read, Shabanov would be signing a 1 year deal. IMO, he will only play in the NHL. If he cannot make it in the NHL right away, I expect him to go back to the KHL. I do think Briere will try to move up from 22 if Aitcheson or Smith fall out of the top 15. Otherwise, would it make sense to move up for a winger with the organizational depth chart the way it currently stands. I do not know. Maybe Cootes if they believe he a legit 2C potential. Nesbitt has size, but lacks skating. Seems like another Berglund.
Going to be really hard to pass on Hagens or Martone at #6 if available. I like O’Brien just feel he is a notch below those two as a prospect. With all of these picks, would not be opposed to drafting 2 goalies in this draft. I do expect some trades before the draft. Let’s hope the Flyers are involved. If the Shabanov rumors are true, certainly a glut of wingers on the roster and at LV.
So Briere was in Miami to personally scout the Russian prospect hopefuls. Feel pretty good about my prediction on him using at least 5 of his first 7 picks. Very confident he will draft one of the Russian goalies. In the future, the player will only sign the ELC when he is NHL ready. Russian players just are not interested in playing in the AHL for long periods of time. Need to learn from the Kolosov experience and not make the same mistake twice.
Looks like goaltending will be addressed. Jake Alen will be 35 who played 31 games last season. I wonder if he is more willing to chase a Cup at this point of his career. No idea whet the answer is. Team goals for this season should include no longer being bottom 5 in save % and PP.
Read Dobson is looking for $11 million/yr on a multi year extension. Could be the reason Romanov is available for a trade.
I know we keep hearing the Flyers really want to extend York, but it sure looks like the “For Sale” is out there. Just have a feeling he could be traded for another RFA- ho ideal who that could be. With a rising cap happening, if the reported York @ 6 million/yr long-term is a pretty good dead for the Flyers. That will be the going rate for 2nd pair Dmen. Sure seems to me they really would like to trade him.
I do believe Briere will use at least 5 of those 7 picks in the first two rounds for prospects. Some of those picks can be stashed in Europe as they develop- KHL in particular. Two MHL goalies are ranked in this draft class- Andraeyanov and Frolov. Kurban Limatov is a LHD with good size in the MHL also.
Still think Briere should trade one of the later 2nd round picks to VAN for Thatcher Demko. Makes no sense for VAN to invest 9.5 million in goal with Demko being a UFA next summer. A low risk gamble for the Flyers, who can bury Fedotov in LV. If Demko regains his form, he could be a solid bridge to one of the young prospects and possibly get re signed next summer. If the plan is to wait to ’26 to go for it, I would think the regime would want some better answers in goal then currently available. Tocchet should have good intel on how he was progressing from his injury. Doubtful any decent free agents or players with a NTC would have much interest coming to a team with consistent bottom 5 goal tending.
If the Flyers want to now copy FLA by getting significantly bigger, then why focus on speed earlier in the Briere era? The Panthers are at best an average skating speed team. Briere traded one of his best assets in the organization (Gauthier) for a small Dman. Re signed a small forward long term in TK. Only 1st round pick he has selected over 6’0 ft tall Bonk. I like O’Brien over Desnoyers, it is close. There is a gap for me with Hagens above those two.
All that being written, it would be quite a moment if Briere goes with McQueen for the ultimate boom or bust pick.
I would argue the Flyers have not won in 50 years because of lack of evaluation for goaltending. Clarke believed the team could carry a goaltender and was more dependent on the team in front of him. Cats have a stud in goal and dedicated the cap space to secure his services. Been a very long time since the Flyers have played a goaltender who was even a fringe Vezina candidate. The position present day looks bleak and with some hope way into the future. I hope there is more to the plan.
I hope Briere does not bypass Hagens because of lack of size. If the organization has an abundance of small forwards, just trade the small forwards who are not as good as Hagens for other assets. I cannot fathom not drafting Hagens because the Flyers already have Brink, Barkey, Michkov, and TK in the organization. Draft prospects who have a realistic chance to be elite.
I hope it will be Hagens, but I feel the pick will be O’Brien. Torts was all about forwards who could skate. Was that an organizational view or a Torts view? hagens is the clear choice, it would be awful to see him fall to BOS.
Ryabkin seems like another Alexei Zherdev situation. Definitely worth the gamble if they keep the EDM pick. Hope they draft another goalie in the 2nd round. Can’t just hope Bjarnasson or Zavargin pan out in a few years.
If Aicheson or Smith starts to fall outidw the top 15, I do think Briere moves up to get 1 of them. Prospect pool for LHD who project as top 4 is slim pickings right now.
